Evening Press Reader's Letter

Why do we need new houses? What's wrong with the old ones? There are currently about 40 million homes in this country for a population of about 60 million which shows little sign of increasing.

Neville Bann from the House Builder's Federation (Evening Press, March 1) has an axe to grind; it is obviously more profitable to build houses on agricultural land, playing fields and other green sites, or occasionally on derelict sites in cities, than to resurrect the stoutly-built Victorian housing stock.

But why do these tiny, cheap houses (affordable homes) often cost twice as much as an equivalent older house?

There is a need for more reasonably-priced accommodation in the rented sector, and perhaps apartment conversions for single people. But the problem is more one of improving employment opportunities and public transport, not of increasing suburban sprawl.

Charles Hunt,

Wilton Rise, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.